The solar plant can address the complete stadium’s lighting needs. But they can’t power the high intensity floodlights which require more power. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 4.5 crore and KSCA aims at recovering the same in around four years. Also, the plant will be able to generate revenue of about Rs. 70 to 80 lakh per year.
Currently, the stadium spends as much as Rs. 1 to 1.2 crores on power bills every year. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium uses around 18 lakh units of power annually. The new solar plant will be able to generate almost 6 lakh units of solar power in a year. KSCA will use a part of this and the authorities plan to sell the surplus to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (BESCOM). BESCOM will pay KSCA Rs. 9.5 per unit of electricity.
The entire project was completed in just 50 days. As of now, solar panels have been installed on the eastern stands. However, in the second phase of the project, authorities will install solar panels on the western stands as well. The combined solar power output will reduce carbon emissions by almost 600 tonnes on an annual basis.
At a time when global climatic change is emerging as a global challenge, KSCA’s move of creating solar powered stadiums is nothing less than revolutionary. In addition to this, KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel has also asked Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to provide sewage water from nearby areas, which can be treated and used in the ground.
(Featured Image Credits: thisweekbangalore.com)